Down into the ocean's 'twilight zone' with Boaty McBoatface

Boaty McBoatface, the famous yellow submarine, has just returned from an incredible journey across the ocean. After spending 55 days at sea, it finally made its way back to Scotland, where a team of engineers helped pull it ashore. Rob Templeton, one of the engineers, described the submarine's condition, saying, 'It’s a bit slimy, and ocean smells have seeped in. There’s a few things growing on it. ' Boaty traveled over 2,000 kilometers from Iceland, and its mission was to gather important information about climate change and the ocean. It was specifically looking for something called marine snow, which consists of tiny particles that sink to the ocean floor and store large amounts of carbon. This is crucial because carbon plays a significant role in our climate. The deep ocean, often referred to as the 'twilight zone,' is a mysterious place that scientists are eager to understand better. Boaty's journey was the longest ever undertaken by a submarine of its kind, and scientists were excited to see what discoveries it would bring back. The National Oceanography Centre in Southampton operates Boaty and a fleet of five other robots. The name Boaty McBoatface was chosen by the public in 2016 for a polar research ship, but instead, it was given to these underwater robots. Rob Templeton expressed his relief, stating, 'Boaty has absolutely passed. It’s a massive relief. ' The engineers worked tirelessly, sending messages to Boaty via satellite to instruct it on where to go and what tasks to perform. They would communicate with it by saying things like, 'Dive here, travel there, turn on that sensor. ' Boaty was equipped with over 20 sensors that monitored various biological and chemical conditions in the ocean, such as nutrient levels, oxygen, photosynthesis, and temperature. This research is part of a significant project called BioCarbon, which is a collaboration between the National Oceanography Centre, the University of Southampton, and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. During the expedition, scientists Dr. Stephanie Henson and Dr. Mark Moore were on board a research vessel in Iceland. They were thrilled with the clear skies and sparkling water, which provided perfect conditions for their work. Stephanie explained, 'We are measuring what's been happening in the upper ocean with the phytoplankton, the plants that grow there. ' They were also studying the tiny animals that feed on these plants and the waste they produce. Stephanie emphasized the importance of the biological carbon pump, saying, 'Our climate would be significantly warmer if the carbon pump wasn't there. ' This means that the ocean plays a vital role in keeping our planet cooler by storing carbon. However, scientists are concerned that climate change is disrupting this process. Boaty's mission was to help scientists learn more about how carbon moves within the ocean. The tiny plants near the surface absorb carbon, and when animals consume them, they produce waste that sinks to the ocean floor. This process is known as the biological carbon pump. Scientists are eager to understand how strong this pump is and how it changes over time. Mark explained that the waters off Iceland are teeming with life in the spring, making it an ideal location for research. However, they observed that there were fewer tiny plants and animals than expected this year. Stephanie warned, 'If that trend were to continue in future years, it would mean the biological (carbon) pump could be weakening. ' This could result in more carbon dioxide remaining in the atmosphere, which is detrimental to our planet. The scientists will continue to analyze their findings and hope to share more information about the fascinating microscopic life they discovered in the ocean. Their research aims to enhance our understanding of how a warming planet will impact the ocean and to identify potential solutions to mitigate the damage.